New program provides scholarships, financial tools

Thursday, Mar 7, 2013

On the heels of a unique tuition freeze, Oklahoma Christian University (OC) is offering students a way to find more scholarships and manage their money.

Oklahoma Christian has partnered with American Student Assistance to provide free access to SALT. This online site enables students to search for thousands of scholarships, jobs and internships, track their student loans, and boost their financial smarts with interactive lessons and other tools.

“As demonstrated by holding the line on our prices, OC is very concerned about affordability and our students’ financial well-being,” said Clint LaRue, director of student financial services. “We believe this partnership will be a wonderful asset for students who choose to take advantage of it. More than 90 percent of OC students receive financial aid, and SALT will help them find more money to make their education even more affordable.”

The SALT program also is open to recent OC alumni, who may particularly benefit from the job search tools and financial tutorials. OC students and alumni also receive members-only discounts on computers and other electronics, dorm room and office accessories, and more.

In addition, students and alumni will have access to ASA’s student loan counselors. These counselors will proactively reach out to help loan borrowers choose the repayment option that best fits their situation. Students and alumni can register and get more information about the free service at www.oc.edu/saltmoney.

“ASA has been the most successful federal loan guarantee agency over the past 50 years at keeping students out of loan default,” LaRue said. “We wanted a product that could help our students with virtually all aspects of their financial lives, and SALT seems like the perfect fit.”

The cost of attendance for OC undergraduate students also stayed the same from 2011-12 to 2012-13, making OC the only university in Oklahoma and the only reporting member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) that did not raise its total price.